Self-actuating device for facilitating preventing product tip over

ABSTRACT

A self-actuating device and method for facilitating preventing product tip over are provided. The self-actuating device includes an anti-tip mechanism associated with a product to facilitate preventing tip over of the product when in an extended state. Further, the self-actuating device includes an actuator associated with the product. The actuator is configured and operatively coupled to automatically switch the anti-tip mechanism from a retracted state to the extended state based on the actuator detecting a tilt of a specified tilt angle.

BACKGROUND

Tip over of an apparatus, such as a machine, rack or other product, canresult in bodily injury, as well as product damage. For instance, acomputer rack, or palletized rack, or more generally a product, may besusceptible to a tip over incident during transportation. Depending onthe configuration, a computer rack, machine, or other product, may havea relatively high center of gravity, making the product more susceptibleto tip over. There are various events which may result in product tipover. For instance, a palletized rack may tip due to the pallet beinglifted by a fork lift whose tines are not fitted to the palletcorrectly, potentially resulting in damage to the palletized rack and/orcomponents within the computer rack. There are numerous other potentialcauses for a tip over event of a product in transport, or more generallywhen being moved, such as when a data center is being reconfigured, withone or more computer racks being repositioned within the data center.

SUMMARY

Certain shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additionaladvantages are provided through the provision, in one or more aspects,of a self-actuating device for facilitating preventing product tip over.The self-actuating device includes an anti-tip mechanism, an actuator,and at least one sensor. The anti-tip mechanism is configured to beassociated with a product to facilitate preventing tip over of theproduct when in an extended state, and the actuator is configured to beassociated with the product, and is configured and operatively coupledto automatically switch the anti-tip mechanism from a retracted state tothe extended state based on the actuator detecting a tilt of a specifiedtilt angle. The actuator includes a weighted cylinder rotatable about anaxis and an activation element associated with the weighted cylinder.The weighted cylinder is weighted in a lower portion thereof, andincludes a slot. The activation element resides within the slot in theweighted cylinder. The at least one sensor monitors for a rotation ofthe activation element disposed within the weighted cylinder by thespecified tilt angle, and thereby, tilting of the associated product bythe specified tilt angle.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusionof the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary product with one embodiment of aself-actuating device for facilitating preventing tip over of theproduct, in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged depiction of the self-actuating device forfacilitating preventing tip over of FIG. 1, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3A depicts the product and self-actuating device of FIG. 1, withthe product tilted and an outrigger of the device shown extended tofacilitate preventing tip over of the product, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged partial depiction of the product andself-actuating device of FIG. 3A, in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts the product with another embodiment of a self-actuatingdevice for facilitating preventing tip over of the product, where theproduct is shown titled and an outrigger of the device is extended, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5A depicts the product with a further embodiment of aself-actuating device for preventing tip over of the product, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5B depicts the product with another embodiment of a self-actuatingdevice for preventing tip over of the product, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6A depicts a further embodiment of a product with a self-actuatingdevice for facilitating preventing tip over of the product, where theproduct is shown titled and an outrigger of the device is extended, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6B depicts a further embodiment of a product with a device forfacilitating preventing tip over of the product, where the product isshown titled and an outrigger of the device is extended, in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7A depicts a further embodiment of a self-actuating device forfacilitating preventing tip over of a product, with the anti-tipmechanism thereof shown in a retracted state, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7B depicts the self-actuating device embodiment of FIG. 7A, withthe anti-tip mechanism thereof shown in an extended state, in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a product with another embodiment of a self-actuatingdevice for facilitating preventing tip over of the product, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 9A depicts a further embodiment of a self-actuating device forfacilitating preventing tip over of a product, with the outriggers ofthe anti-tip mechanism thereof shown retracted, in accordance with oneor more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 9B depicts the self-actuating device embodiment of FIG. 9A, with anoutrigger of the anti-tip mechanism thereof shown extended, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 depicts one example of a computer environment to incorporate orfacilitate implementing one or more aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention and certain features, advantages anddetails thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to thenon-limiting example(s) illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Descriptions of well-known systems, devices, processing techniques,etc., are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the invention indetail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed descriptionin this specific example(s), while indicating aspects of the invention,is given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation.Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or otherarrangements, within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventiveconcepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdisclosure. Note further that numerous inventive aspects and featuresare disclosed herein, and unless inconsistent, each disclosed aspect orfeature is combinable with any other disclosed aspect or feature asdesired for a particular application to facilitate, for instance,providing a self-actuating device to resist product tip over.

The illustrative embodiments may be described below using specificdesigns, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, or tools only asexamples, and are not limited to the illustrative embodiments. Theillustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with othercomparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, orarchitectures.

The examples in this disclosure are used only for clarity of descriptionand are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additionaloperations, actions, tasks, activities, and manipulations will beconceivable from this disclosure and the same are contemplated withinthe scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended tobe limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or differentadvantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments.Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, ornone of the advantages listed herein.

Note that the term product is used herein to refer generally to anyproduct, package, apparatus, machine, container, cabinet, rack, pallet,etc., that may benefit from having a tip over preventing device, such asdisclosed herein. As one example, the product may be a computer rack,which conventionally may be of high value, and relatively tall, andpotentially top heavy, and therefore prone to tipping during transportor other movement, such as when being moved within a data center.

Products, including computer racks, are often transported in packagesthat may include or reside on a pallet. The pallet may have a bottomdeck board, a top deck board, and sidewalls between the top and bottomdeck boards. The boards and sidewalls of the pallet define a palletinterior into which tines of a fork lift, pallet jack or othersemi-manual device may be inserted so that the pallet, package andcomputer rack inside the package can be lifted off the ground and moved.Since the pallet interior has to be large enough to accommodate varioustypes of tines, it is often the case that the pallet interior issignificantly larger than the tines. In such situations, there can be alarge gap between the tines and the bottom deck board, which may lead toinstability during lift or a turn operation. If this instability isexcessive, the pallet, the package and/or the rack inside the packagemay tilt, and if the tilt becomes significant enough, product tip overmay result, potentially causing damage to the palletized rack and/orcomponents within the computer rack, or even bodily injury if contactingan individual.

Other tip incidents can arise in other cases as well. For instance, apackaged product, or a product itself (which may be on rollers or legs),could apparently be seated securely within a vehicle for transport.However, should the vehicle accelerate or brake suddenly, or make asharp turn, the product might still tip over. Further examples includethe possibility of a tip over event occurring during moving orrepositioning of a product, such as a computer rack within a datacenter, or as might occur during an earthquake.

Disclosed herein, in one or more aspects, are self-actuating devices andmethods of fabricating the devices to facilitate preventing tip overaccidents from occurring by providing for an automatic deployment of anoutrigger (e.g., arm) upon detection of a tilt of a specified tiltangle. By way of example, the self-actuating device for facilitatingpreventing product tip over may include an anti-tip mechanism and anactuator. The anti-tip mechanism may be associated with the product tofacilitate preventing tip over of the product when in an extended state.The actuator may also be associated with the product, and may beconfigured and operatively coupled to automatically switch the anti-tipmechanism from a retracted state to the extended state based on theactuator detecting a tilt of a specified tilt angle. For instance, aparticular tilt angle in the range of 10°-15° may be specified, and oncedetected by the actuator, an outrigger (or arm) of the anti-tipmechanism may be automatically released or extended in the direction ofthe product tilt in order to facilitate preventing tip over of theproduct.

In one or more embodiments, the actuator may include a weighted cylinderrotatable or movable about an axis, and an activation element associatedwith the weighted cylinder. The weighted cylinder, in one or moreimplementations, may be weighted in a lower portion thereof. By way ofexample, the activation element may be a releasable element relative tothe weighted cylinder. The releasable element may release to initiatetransitioning of the anti-tip mechanism to the extended state based onthe weighted cylinder rotating or transitioning by the specified tiltangle from level about the axis. In one or more embodiments, thereleasable element moves to engage a hinged latch of the anti-tipmechanism when the weighted cylinder rotates by the specified tilt anglein a particular direction, and based thereon, the hinged latch releasesan outwardly biased outrigger arm of the anti-tip mechanism in adirection of the tilt, thereby transitioning the anti-tip mechanism tothe extended state.

In one or more embodiments, the weighted cylinder may include a slot,and the activation element may reside within the slot in the weightedcylinder. Further, the device may include at least one sensor forsensing rotation of the activation element disposed within the weightedcylinder by the specified tilt angle, and thereby, tilting of theassociated product by the specified tilt angle. In one or moreparticular embodiments, the at least one sensor may include at least oneoptical sensor, magnetic sensor or capacitive sensor depending on theactivation element employed.

In one or more embodiments, the anti-tip mechanism may include adeployable outrigger, with the outrigger extending outward relative tothe product when the anti-tip mechanism is in the extended state. In oneor more embodiments, the outrigger may include a telescoping arm.

In one or more implementations, the anti-tip mechanism may include afirst deployable outrigger and a second deployable outrigger. The firstoutrigger may extend outward relative to the product in a firstdirection when extended, and the second outrigger may extend outwardrelative to the product in the second direction when extended, where thefirst and second directions are opposite directions. Further, theactuator may switch the anti-tip mechanism to extend the first outriggerin extended state based on the product tilting in the first direction bythe specified tilt angle, and may switch the anti-tip mechanism toextend the second outrigger in extended state based on the producttilting in the second direction by the specified tilt angle.

In one or more embodiments, the anti-tip mechanism and the actuator mayeach be internally or externally coupled to the product, with theanti-tip mechanism being coupled to the product below the actuator. Byway of example, the product may include one or more of a computer rack,machine, shipping crate, or a shipping pallet. In one or moreembodiments, the anti-tip mechanism may include an outwardly biasedoutrigger, with the outwardly biased outrigger being released to rotateoutward (e.g., downward) when the actuator automatically switches theanti-tip mechanism from the retracted state to the extended state.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of an apparatus 100 comprising a product110 with a self-actuating device 120 for facilitating preventing tipover of product 110. As illustrated, product 110 may be on casters 112,and self-actuating device 120 may be located within (or externallycoupled to) a lower portion of product 110. In the embodiment depicted,self-actuating device 120 includes an actuator 130 and an anti-tipmechanism 140. As noted above, product 110 may be representative of anyproduct, package, apparatus, machine, container, cabinet, rack, pallet,or other structure, etc., that may benefit from having a self-actuating,tip over preventing device, such as disclosed herein. By way of exampleonly, product 110 may be described herein as being a computer rack (suchas an IT rack), which as noted above, may be relatively tall andpotentially top-heavy depending upon the arrangement of componentswithin the rack.

FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged view of self-actuating device 120 of FIG. 1.As described herein, device 120 is an adaptive deployment outriggerdevice that may be used with relatively large products (such as systempackages) to resist tip over of the product during shipping, relocation,or other event, such as an earthquake. Advantageously, thisself-actuating device remains in retracted position when the associatedproduct is relatively level, such as below a specified tilt angle. Thisallows the outriggers of the device to remain within the product, or forinstance, within the footprint of the product, so as not to present atripping hazard for service personnel. Further, the self-actuatingdevice deploys one or more outriggers in a direction of tilt whenrequired to resist tip over of the product. Depending on theimplementations, the self-actuating device may require no power source,and therefore be battery independent.

By way of example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, actuator 130 includes aweighted cylinder 132 which may rotate or move about an axis 131 withinan outer sleeve or housing 133 with tipping or tilting of the device,and thus, the product when the device is associated with (e.g., coupledto) the product. In one or more implementations, weighted cylinder 132is weighted in a lower portion thereof, and includes a slot 134, such asa notch or other opening configured as desired. Note that, in one ormore embodiments, weighted cylinder 132 is weighted in the lower portionthereof to, for instance, prevent undue movement of weighted cylinder132 during shock or vibration of the device or product with whichself-actuating device 120 is associated.

In one or more embodiments, a releasable element 136, such as a weightedsphere, puck, etc., is disposed within slot 134. Releasable element 136is designed to release (down a respective tube) when the associatedproduct reaches a specified, critical tilt angle for which the device isdesigned. For instance, upon reaching a specified tilt angle, releasableelement 136 travels down a respective tube (or conduit) 148 a, 148 b tocontact a respective hinged latch 146 a, 146 b of anti-tip mechanism 140in the direction of tilt. Note that self-actuating device 120 may bedesigned with any desired specified tilt angle by configuring sleeve 133with one or more appropriate openings to allow for release of releasableelement 136 down the appropriate tube 148 a, 148 b with actuator 130detecting a tilt by the specified angle.

As illustrated, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 & 2, anti-tip mechanism 140may include a first outrigger 142 a oriented to extend outward relativeto the device (or product) in a first direction, and a second outrigger142 b oriented to extend outward relative to the device (or product) inthe second direction, where the first and second directions are oppositedirections. Further, actuator 130 automatically switches (e.g., via thereleasable element) anti-tip mechanism 140 to extend first outrigger 142a in extended state based on the product tilting in the first direction(e.g., to the left in the figure) by the specified tilt angle, andswitches the anti-tip mechanism to extend second outrigger 142 b inextended state based on the product tilting in the second direction(e.g., to the right in the figure) by the specified tilt angle. Moreparticularly, when tilted in the first direction by the specified tiltangle, releasable element 136 releases to travel down tube 148 a toengage hinged latch 146 a, and upon engagement with the latch, torelease outrigger (or arm) 142 a, which as shown may be spring biased144 a. As shown, releasing hinged latch 146 a results in deployingoutrigger 142 a in the direction of the tilt to facilitate preventing(or resist) tip over of the product. Note that spring biasing 144 a inthis sense implies any deployment source sized to deploy or extend theoutrigger, such as a mechanical spring, pneumatic device, electric coil,etc. That is, the spring biasing may be any deployment source that hasthe power to extend or deploy the associated outrigger. Conversely,should the device or product tilt in the second direction to thespecified tilt angle, then releasable element 136 releases down tube 148b to engage hinged latch 146 b, and thereby release outrigger 142 b,which as noted is also spring biased 144 b outward in a directioncorresponding to the direction of product tilt.

FIGS. 3A & 3B depict a use example of self-actuating device 120associated with product 110. In the example illustrated, product 110,with an associated self-actuating device 120, has tilted in a firstdirection by the specified tilt angle, thereby releasing releasableelement 136 to transition down to hinged latch 146 a, releasingoutrigger 142 a to deploy outward in the direction of the tilt, andthereby facilitate preventing or resisting further tilting or tip overof product 110. Note that in one or more embodiments, each individualoutrigger may be configured to support the weight of the associatedproduct when tilted at the specified tilt angle without collapsing.Further, in one or more implementations, the outrigger may be ofsufficient length to reach or contact a surface upon which the productresides when deployed at the specified tilt angle. If desired, theoutward ends of the outriggers may be configured to facilitatecontacting and gripping the support surface when deployed at thecritical angle. Further, the spring biasing of the outriggers may alsooperate as a built-in shock absorber as the outrigger fully deploys andinitially contacts the support surface or floor.

In one or more embodiments, self-actuating device 120 may be integratedwithin product 110, or could be externally attached along a side ofproduct 110, if desired. Further, as explained below, device 120 couldbe associated with or integrated with packaging surrounding an apparatusto be protected, or even associated with a pallet upon which theapparatus resides, whether packaged or unpackaged, with the assembly tobe protected referred to herein as the product.

FIG. 4 depicts a variation on self-actuating device 120 of FIGS. 1-3B,wherein actuator 130 is shown disposed in an upper portion of product110, and coupled via respective elongated tubes 400 a, 400 b to anti-tipmechanism 140. With the exception of elongated tubes 400 a, 400 b inplace of tubes 148 a, 148 b of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3B, the device,including actuator 130 and anti-tip mechanism 140 may be substantiallyidentical to that described above. This particular implementation may beadvantageous where there is limited room in the lower portion of product110 for actuator 130 to reside.

Further variations are depicted in FIGS. 5A & 5B. In FIG. 5A, twodevices 120 are shown, each with an actuator 130 and an anti-tipmechanism 140 such as described above. In one or more embodiments, theanti-tip mechanisms may be disposed in the middle of the product 110 forpossible outrigger 142 deployment, such as shown in FIG. 5A. In thiscase, the releasable elements 136 associated with the respectiveself-actuating devices 120 are shown released down respective tubes 500to contact the respective hinged latches of the two anti-tip mechanisms140, thereby having released respective outriggers 142 in the directionof tilt. Note that tubes 500 may be of any desired configuration toallow for passage of the respective releasable elements 136 fromactuators 130 to the corresponding anti-tip mechanism 140 upon theactuator detecting a tilt of the specified tilt angle in a particulardirection, as described herein.

In the example of FIG. 5B, two devices 120 are again shown. In thiscase, devices 120 are disposed, by way of example, at the front and rearsides of product 110 to again allow for two outriggers (or arms) toextend in the case of tilting product 110 in a first direction by thespecified tilt angle, or in the second direction (or opposite direction)by the specified tilt angle. Note that if desired, one or more devices120 could also be positioned substantially perpendicular to devices 120of FIGS. 5A & 5B to extend outward in a front direction or to extendoutward in a backward direction should product 110 tilt in either ofthose directions by a specified tilt angle as well. Note also that ifdesired, different devices associated with the product may havedifferent specified tilt angles. For instance, where present, front andbackward tilt preventing devices may have a different specified tiltangle than sideways tilt preventing devices.

FIGS. 6A & 6B depict further variations on the product with which thedevice may be associated. In FIG. 6A, self-actuating device 120 is shownassociated with a product 110′ that includes packaging, such as a box orcrate, containing an apparatus 601. In such a case, the device 120 maybe located on the inside or outside of product 110′, such as between thepackaging and the apparatus within the packaging. Appropriate openingsmay be provided in product 110′ aligned to the deployable outriggers (orarms) 142′ of device 120. In the embodiment shown, product 110′ may be apalletized product, with the package sitting on a pallet 600 to whichthe package may be affixed, in one or more embodiments. Note that in theembodiment of 6A, the outrigger 142′ of device 120 may be sized longerdue to the presence of pallet 600. For instance, the outrigger 142′ maybe configured to extend out 2-3′, if needed to contact the supportsurface and facilitate preventing tip over of product 110′ upon reachingthe critical angle.

FIG. 6B depicts a similar product 110′ to FIG. 6A, however,self-actuating device 120 is embodiment shown associated with pallet 600of product 110′, rather than the packaging of the palletized product. Inparticular, actuator 130 may be coupled to pallet 600 along withanti-tip mechanism 140. In the example shown, outrigger 142 has beendeployed to extend in the direction of tilt by releasable element 136having contacted hinged latch 146 upon tilting of product 110′ by thespecified tilt angle, as described above. As with the example of FIGS.5A & 5B, multiple self-actuating devices 120 may be associated with theproduct of FIG. 6A or 6B, that is, multiple devices may be associatedwith packaging of an apparatus, and/or a pallet upon which the apparatusis being transported or shipped, collectively referred to herein as theproduct.

FIGS. 7A & 7B depict a further variation on self-actuating device 120,where the respective outriggers 142 a, 142 b include telescoping arms700, which further extend out the length of each outrigger whendeployed, if necessary to contact the product support surface, andthereby inhibit or facilitate preventing tip over of the associatedproduct. In FIG. 7A, the anti-tip mechanism 140 of device 120 is shownin retracted state, while in FIG. 7B, anti-tip mechanism 140 is shown inextended state, with one of the outriggers 142 a, and the telescopingarms 700 thereof, shown extended, by way of example. This deploymentresults from actuator 130 having detected a tilt of the specified tiltangle, and the releasable element 136 having traveled to engage therespective hinged latch 146 a, which released the outrigger as shown.Note that the length of the outrigger 146 a or telescoping arm 700 couldbe based on how tall the product is. For instance, the length of theoutrigger may be 1-2′, depending on the implementation. Telescoping ofthe arm or outrigger advantageously may reduce the seated length of theoutrigger within the self-actuating device associated with the product,and therefore making it easier to couple the device to the product.

In FIG. 8 a product 110 is shown with a self-actuating device 120 suchas described above in connection with FIGS. 1-7B, wherein the device hasa variation in that the outrigger or arm 142″ is configured to pivot orswing outward, whether downward as illustrated or laterally outward in ahorizontal plane (not shown) about an axis 800 when deployed. Note that,as with the above described embodiments, the outrigger may be a piston,rod, bar, etc., that may or may not telescope, such as in the examplesof FIGS. 7A & 7B. Note that in the embodiments disclosed herein, product110 may have appropriately sized openings where required to allow theoutrigger to extend when the anti-tip mechanism transitions to extendedstate, assuming, that is, that the device is disposed within the product110 and not external to the product.

FIGS. 9A & 9B depict a further embodiment of a self-actuating device120′, such as self-actuating device 120 described above. In thisconfiguration, the actuator 130′ again includes a weighted cylinder 132which rotates or moves about an axis 131 within a sleeve or housing 133.As described above, weighted cylinder is weighted in a lower portionthereof to prevent undesired deployment of one or more outriggers due toshock or vibration experienced by the associated product. A slot 900(such as a notch, slit or opening or cavity) is provided in weightedcylinder 132, which contains an activation element 901, which asdepicted in FIG. 9A may be positioned to depend downward by the actionof gravity on weighted cylinder 132 when the associated product islevel. First and second sensors 910 are provided at a specified tiltangle relative to this level position of activation element 901. Uponthe weighted cylinder rotating sufficiently for activation element 901to be sensed by one of the sensors 910, a signal may be sent to acontroller 920 which may then power a respective solenoid 930 to actuatea corresponding hinged latch 146 of the anti-tip mechanism 140 torelease the corresponding outrigger 142 in the direction of tilt, asdepicted in FIG. 9B. Note that controller 920 may be any of a variety ofcontrol mechanisms, including a computer control mechanism. Note alsothat sensor(s) 910 may be fixed or movable to adjust the specified tiltangle, as desired for a particular product implementation. Further, inone or more implementations, controller 920 may be configured to recorddesired information. For instance, controller 920 may be configured tolog tilt angles experienced during shipment of the product.

One or more aspects of the tilt angle monitoring and automatic releaseof the outrigger arm of the anti-tip mechanism may be performed by,implemented in association with, or otherwise facilitated by a computersystem, one embodiment of which is depicted in FIG. 10. A computersystem may be based on one of various system architectures and/orinstruction set architectures, such as those offered by InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y., USA), Intel Corporation(Santa Clara, Calif., USA) or ARM Holdings PLC (Cambridge, England,United Kingdom), as examples.

FIG. 10 shows a computer system 1000 in communication with externaldevice(s) 1012. Computer system 1000 includes one or more processor(s)1002, for instance, central processing unit(s) (CPUs). A processor caninclude functional components used in the execution of instructions,such as functional components that fetch program instructions fromlocations such as cache or main memory, decode program instructions,execute program instructions, access memory for instruction execution,and write results of the executed instructions. A processor 1002 caninclude register(s) to be used by one or more of the functionalcomponents. Computer system 1000 also includes memory 1004, input/output(I/O) devices 1008, and I/O interfaces 1010, which may be coupled toprocessor(s) 1002 and each other via one or more busses and/or otherconnections. Bus connections represent one or more of any of severaltypes of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures known in the art.

Memory 1004 can be or include main or system memory (e.g., random accessmemory) used in the execution of program instructions, a storagedevice(s) such as hard drive(s), flash media or optical media asexamples, and/or cache memory, as examples. Memory 1004 can include, forinstance, a cache, such as a shared cache, which may be coupled to localcaches (examples include L1 cache, L2 cache, etc.) of processor(s) 1002.Additionally, memory 1004 may be or include at least one computerprogram product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules,instructions, code or the like that is/are configured to carry out thefunctions of various control aspects described herein when executed byone or more processors.

Memory 1004 can store an operating system 1005 and other computerprograms 1006, such as one or more computer programs/applications thatexecute to perform aspects described herein. Specifically,program/applications can include computer readable program instructionsthat may be configured to carry out functions of embodiments of aspectsdescribed herein.

Examples of I/O devices 1008 include but are not limited toaccelerometers, magnetometers, and/or other sensor devices coupled to,for instance, sense tilt angle, etc. An I/O device may be incorporatedinto the computer system as shown, though in some embodiments in I/Odevice may be regarded as an external device 1012 coupled to thecomputer system through one or more I/O interfaces 1010.

Computer system 1000 may communicate with one or more external devices1012 via one or more I/O interfaces 1010. Example external devicesinclude any device that enables computer system 1000 to communicate withone or more other devices, such as an anti-tip mechanism describedherein. A communication between I/O interfaces 1010 and external devices1012 can occur across wired and/or wireless communication link(s) 1011,such as ethernet based wired or wireless connections. Example wirelessconnections include cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, proximity-based, nearfield, or other types of wireless connections. More generally,communication link(s) 1011 may be any appropriate wireless and/or wiredcommunication link(s) for communicating data. Computer system 1000 maytake any of various forms, well known examples of which include, but arenot limited to, personal computer (PC) system(s), server computersystem(s), laptop(s), tablet(s), multiprocessor system(s),multiprocessor-based system(s), etc.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (andany form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (andany form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any formof include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and anyform contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-endedlinking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”,“includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses thoseone or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing onlythose one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or anelement of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains”one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is notlimited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, adevice or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured inat least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are notlisted.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, areintended to include any structure, material, or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of one or more aspects of the invention and the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand one or more aspects of the invention for various embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-actuating device for facilitating preventing product tip over, the self-actuating device comprising: an anti-tip mechanism configured to be associated with a product to facilitate preventing tip over thereof when in an extended state; an actuator configured to be associated with the product, the actuator being configured and operatively coupled to automatically switch the anti-tip mechanism from a retracted state to the extended state based on the actuator detecting a tilt of a specified tilt angle; wherein: the actuator comprises a weighted cylinder rotatable about an axis and an activation element associated with the weighted cylinder, the weighted cylinder being weighted in a lower portion thereof; the weighted cylinder comprises a slot, and the activation element resides within the slot in the weighted cylinder; and at least one sensor for sensing a rotation of the activation element disposed within the weighted cylinder by the specified tilt angle, and thereby, tilting of the associated product by the specified tilt angle.
 2. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor from the group consisting of an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor or a capacitive sensor.
 3. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the anti-tip mechanism comprises an outrigger, the outrigger extending outward relative to the product when the anti-tip mechanism is in the extended state.
 4. The self-actuating device of claim 3, wherein the outrigger comprises a telescoping arm.
 5. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the anti-tip mechanism comprises a first outrigger and a second outrigger, the first outrigger extending outward relative to the product in a first direction when extended, and the second outrigger extending outward relative to the product in a second direction when extended, where the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions.
 6. The self-actuating device of claim 5, wherein the actuator switches the anti-tip mechanism to extend the first outrigger in the extended state based on the product tilting in the first direction by the specified tilt angle, and switches the anti-tip mechanism to extend the second outrigger in the extended state based on the product tilting in the second direction by the specified tilt angle.
 7. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the anti-tip mechanism and the actuator are each coupled to the product, the anti-tip mechanism being coupled to the product below the actuator.
 8. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the product comprises at least one of a computer rack, a machine, a shipping crate, or a shipping pallet.
 9. The self-actuating device of claim 1, wherein the anti-tip mechanism comprises an outwardly-biased outrigger, the outwardly-biased outrigger being released to rotate outward when the actuator automatically switches the anti-tip mechanism from the retracted state to the extended state. 